Questions From A Guy In Portland Oregon That's Considering Trucking

1. Which companies hire someone with a 3 year-old Negligent Driving Charge (reduced from a DUI). What I got the charge for essentially was that I accidentally drove down a (very short) one-way street the wrong way.

2. Which companies have the best home time options for new drivers? I live by Portland Oregon, and am looking to just get my first year completed as "easiest" as possible (by this I mean, working a schedule in which I can be home for 7 days after working 14, for an example).

3. I am looking for companies known to provide ACTUAL emotional and mental respect for drivers. By this I mean, helping them out when they are screwed with an issue regarding hours, sleep time changes, other scenarios that make this job the reason the turnover rate is so high, and helping them out if they request anything at all (if it's reasonable of course).

4. Which companies allow cigarette smoking while driving?

5. Do I HAVE to drive OTR to get my first year under my belt, or are there any (western) companies that let you learn by doing something with more home time (regional, ltl)? I might do OTR anyways just because I want to travel, but at the same time, I do not want to be stuck out in the NE because I didn't know of a company that provided HONEST home time.

Thanks to whomever reads this. I understand not every question will have perfect answers, so any general advice would still be greatly appreciated. About me, for what it's worth: I'm 26, I live by Portland, Oregon, I'm very chill and down to earth, I'm an intelligent artist, photographer, musician, filmmaker, philosopher, and I love to see new places. I've realized that I will never work fast food, or deal with customers at somewhere like Walmart all day because people get on my nerves quickly. This is largely why I'm considering trucking. I am looking for peace and quiet, and I'm looking for self-discovery. I don't need a million dollars right now, I need to find a trucking company out here that will not completely treat me like **** as a person, respect the home time agreement that I signed up for, allow me as much "freedom" as possible to decide how I get to my appointments (in terms of routes), allow pets and ride-alongs, and simply, just be the most understanding and helpful as possible to new drivers. I don't think I'm asking too much. There has to be at least one company, or type of trucking that will be best for me. I keep hearing LTL is good to start at? Whatev. Thanks all!

Welcome Aaron. Let me see if I can at least start to help you in the right direction. Lets go in order.

1. This you will have to call around and find out. Most companies have similar reasons they will and will not hire someone but not all. Best bet is to talk to someone and be be honest. Then you'll know

2. Last I knew Roehl had the best home time around with a 7 out, 7 home plan. Now if you actually did that you would make no money. But if home time is that important I would check them out. Others may be good too but not sure the specifics.

3. The general rule is that if you bust your balls and become a reliable driver then i'm sure they will work with you. If you act like a slouch with a bad attitude then don't expect any favors.

4. I have no idea about smoking in the trucks. My company allows it but it may be different across the board.

5. Normally the thing to do is go OTR for a year then you can go where ever you want. Now myself I was able to get a local gig right out of school but that's not the norm. Best thing to do is to start scouring the jobs ad's and see what's out there. If you see something that peaks your interest give them a shout and see if they're willing to take on someone without experience. You just never know. And don't be afraid to apply to everyone even if then want more experience. The worst they can say is no or not call you back. Just for it if that's what you want.

Hope this helps a little anyway. I'm sure there will be others on here that will be able to answer things a little better.

Good luck

1. Which companies hire someone with a 3 year-old Negligent Driving Charge (reduced from a DUI). What I got the charge for essentially was that I accidentally drove down a (very short) one-way street the wrong way.

2. Which companies have the best home time options for new drivers? I live by Portland Oregon, and am looking to just get my first year completed as "easiest" as possible (by this I mean, working a schedule in which I can be home for 7 days after working 14, for an example).

3. I am looking for companies known to provide ACTUAL emotional and mental respect for drivers. By this I mean, helping them out when they are screwed with an issue regarding hours, sleep time changes, other scenarios that make this job the reason the turnover rate is so high, and helping them out if they request anything at all (if it's reasonable of course).

4. Which companies allow cigarette smoking while driving?

5. Do I HAVE to drive OTR to get my first year under my belt, or are there any (western) companies that let you learn by doing something with more home time (regional, ltl)? I might do OTR anyways just because I want to travel, but at the same time, I do not want to be stuck out in the NE because I didn't know of a company that provided HONEST home time.

Thanks to whomever reads this. I understand not every question will have perfect answers, so any general advice would still be greatly appreciated. About me, for what it's worth: I'm 26, I live by Portland, Oregon, I'm very chill and down to earth, I'm an intelligent artist, photographer, musician, filmmaker, philosopher, and I love to see new places. I've realized that I will never work fast food, or deal with customers at somewhere like Walmart all day because people get on my nerves quickly. This is largely why I'm considering trucking. I am looking for peace and quiet, and I'm looking for self-discovery. I don't need a million dollars right now, I need to find a trucking company out here that will not completely treat me like **** as a person, respect the home time agreement that I signed up for, allow me as much "freedom" as possible to decide how I get to my appointments (in terms of routes), allow pets and ride-alongs, and simply, just be the most understanding and helpful as possible to new drivers. I don't think I'm asking too much. There has to be at least one company, or type of trucking that will be best for me. I keep hearing LTL is good to start at? Whatev. Thanks all!

1. That driving charge might be hold you back a bit but I'm sure if you work hard at it someone will give you a shot. Anything that has to do with reckless driving or alcohol related is pretty much a done deal.

2. There is only one big company I can think of that would meet your needs based on what you want and thats Knights Transportation and I'll be honest with you I don't think they will overlook your charge. They've got a Terminal in Fairview.

3. I can only speak on personal experience on this one but I've never been able to get on the same page as the front office, they demand everything and give very little back. You have to fight tooth and nail for what you wan't till they learn your limits. When I started out Trucking I mainly relied on other drivers, my first week out I had a Tandem question and I got the answer. "Hold On!" I was immediately transferred to another driver currently on the road.

4. Most companies will say no smoking in their equipment but they usually don't enforce it.

5. Yup, you got a good chance of doing Regional! I personally hate it, can't stand running up and down I5. Oregon and California back every other day is so boring. I run OTR and and I assure you that some of these better fleets can get you home pretty much when you wan't. When it comes to hometime they are starting to come around on this issue because they lose so many drivers due to bad hometime. I run for a smaller company now but at one point I drove for Marten Transport and they had so many freight options getting home wasn't an issue.

Aaron, I tried to address most of your concerns in your other thread that was very similar to this one, but I've got to tell you that you keep me perplexed, and I'm not sure this career is something that is going to work for you. This is not some quest out across the country like Arlo Guthrie would sing about, this is a job with really demanding schedules and time lines. You always tell us how hard a worker you are, but then all of your questions and concerns seem to be focused around how to avoid actually having to work very hard at this. I'm seriously beginning to think that you would do better at something where creativity is considered more important than productivity.

Thanks everyone!!! Very helpful information, and it was very much appreciated. And Old School, there's no need to think too hard about why I ask what I do! I just ask because I want to know. I know that trucking is one of the most demanding and difficult career paths that there is on this friggin' planet! So I KNOW it's not some quest for magical sparkly unicorns frolicking through heavenly pastures made of skittles. I ask what I ask because I want to hear the answers to my questions from experienced truck drivers. I want to hear the truth, and I want to understand the job better. I want to understand what the freedoms versus limitations are when it comes to this trade/lifestyle. I am not "just an artist", I'm an INFINITE BEING (as are you). I've worked pulling heavy branches, using chainsaws, digging and bleeding, for 10-13 hours a day--- I understand "demanding." I am considering trucking because I HONESTLY want to travel, earn an honest living, meet unique people, and take on the demanding challenge of a hard****ingcore job like trucking. If I have not yet explained myself clearer I don't know how I can further. I understand, I'm a bit of a paradox. But don't worry about it. Just don't judge me based on the "vibe" you might get from my questions. I know how ****ty trucking can be, so I'm asking what I'm asking so I can try to see the picture just a little bit bigger. That's all. And I am NOT upset at you for being confused. I am confusing sometimes to people. I'm just saying all this in case I post a new post with similar questions (or completely different questions) and you think to yourself "why is he asking these questions he sounds like an idiot?!?!" Now you can know that I did it because I want to hear replies from DIFFERENT drivers. Just trying to level with you! Thanks again everyone. I learned new things from your replies : ) Take care, stay safe out there.

Don't be discouraged there are all sorts of different driving jobs, you can choose to run casual if you want but you won't get to keep you truck when you're not in it. You can run OTR , Regional , Local the possibilities are endless.

Don't be discouraged there are all sorts of different driving jobs, you can choose to run casual if you want but you won't get to keep you truck when you're not in it. You can run OTR , Regional , Local the possibilities are endless.

thanks. yeah, maybe in a year i can drive "casual." but the way i understand trucking is like this: "go here, be there by ***". then i have no choice but to run as hard as needed. i see now that i have little choice in terms of how much or little i work for the company. they own my ass, and that's it. maybe AFTER a year is over i can have a jolly good time driving local or something, but the first year i will have no choice but to bust butt (if they even give me miles), and deal with stupid greedy suits 1000 miles away.... : )

quick question, anyone know anything about Watkins Shepard? i've heard both really positive things and really bad things. and yes, i'm sure the experienced driver reading this will say something very wise like: "all trucking companies are *******s sometimes, and other times, you are treated properly and professionally. sometimes you get ****ty miles, sometimes they are organized and give you miles that were planned appropriately."....or something to this extent. i just wanted to ask if there was anything anyone wanted to say about them.

i see now that i have little choice in terms of how much or little i work for the company. they own my ass, and that's it. maybe AFTER a year is over i can have a jolly good time driving local or something, but the first year i will have no choice but to bust butt (if they even give me miles), and deal with stupid greedy suits 1000 miles away.... : )

Aaron, as much as we've tried with you, there seems to be no way to help you. You absolutely do not understand anything we've tried to tell you, and you just see things the way you want to. No one, and I repeat no one here has said anything even remotely close to the attitude you share above. No one owns me or controls me in this business, I am my own captain. The reason I do well at it is because I know what I want out of it and therefore I go for it. I reach my goals which impresses those "stupid greedy suits" as you call them. Now if I had the attitude of just wanting to have a "jolly good time driving", as you do, they would not waste their time nor effort on me.

Please, if you want to be in this profession, stop all your futile internet research because it has steered you completely in the wrong direction. You are a willing participant in the current trend of malcontents and underachievers who have drug our profession through the muck for waaaay too long.

I'm out, I'm done.

I am wiser than i sound, and i understand that trucking "is what you make of it." i was mostly just being silly and sarcastic by the way. i know a lot of companies do indeed treat their drivers like machines rather than humans who are sleepy or scared of bad weather, etc, so i still think there's plenty of truth in what i said. but, was i being completely serious? no, not really. : ) thanks for sharing your wisdom with me old school. i don't mean to upset you or disrespect you in any way. i'm genuinely on here trying to understand trucking in general, the lifestyle, the work, the details. if i ever become a trucker, i would go into it knowing that having a good attitude and being respectful of everyone is key. don't worry about it/me. if i go into trucking, and i pass you on the road, i'd be one to kindly wave at you. sorry i joke around too much, and thank you for helping me understand this life. i really do appreciate it. take care.

I am wiser than i sound, and i understand that trucking "is what you make of it." i was mostly just being silly and sarcastic by the way. i know a lot of companies do indeed treat their drivers like machines rather than humans who are sleepy or scared of bad weather, etc, so i still think there's plenty of truth in what i said. but, was i being completely serious? no, not really. : ) thanks for sharing your wisdom with me old school. i don't mean to upset you or disrespect you in any way. i'm genuinely on here trying to understand trucking in general, the lifestyle, the work, the details. if i ever become a trucker, i would go into it knowing that having a good attitude and being respectful of everyone is key. don't worry about it/me. if i go into trucking, and i pass you on the road, i'd be one to kindly wave at you. sorry i joke around too much, and thank you for helping me understand this life. i really do appreciate it. take care.

We are far too busy out here on the road to be spending 20 minutes replying to your outrageous questions, when all along you were just joking.

That's very immature and disrespectful and a complete waste of our time.